RO with Alkaline or copper water purifiers are two different types of water treatment, each with its own benefits. Alkaline purifiers raise water pH 7 to 9.5 through electrolysis and mineral addition, while copper purifiers use natural antimicrobial properties along with RO and Cu ion addition. These systems are often combined in brands like KENT, Aquaguard, Livpure, Hul to provide complete water treatment and shows average PH 8. So, are you looking for Alkaline or Copper water purifier for you home? This article will break it down for you.
Comparison of Alkaline and Copper Water Purifiers
Confused between alkaline and copper water purifier for your home? I have compared two top models from KENT: the Supreme Alkaline and Copper. Both have RO+UV+UF+TDS technology but differ in PH.
01. Purification effectiveness
Alkaline and copper water purifiers have similar approach to water purification, you will find most of the RO comes with UV or UF and TDS Controller, in copper water it just adds copper ions. In TDS Controlling I have found, both the water purifier is designed to handle input water with up to 2000 ppm TDS, as claimed by the brand. In testing, the Supreme Alkaline it reduced input water with a TDS level of 698 ppm to an output of 96 ppm after purification, achieving an 86.24% reduction rate. In the Supreme Copper RO system, water with a TDS of 710 ppm was treated, resulting in purified water with an output TDS of 102 ppm. Both the Copper and Alkaline models showed good TDS removal, as per the brand’s claim and provides safe drinking water within the recommended limits (TDS < 500 ppm as per WHO).
Chlorine present in Water above 1 Mg/L can make water taste bitter, I am talking about if it reaches above 1 Mg/L. What I found in both Copper and Alkaline model, input water with 0.2 mg/L chlorine was processed, and output was 0.05 mg/L post purification. This is 75% reduction. So, what I seen both models shown good chlorine reduction, as per NSF/ANSI standards for chlorine removal.
02. Impact on water pH and mineral content
Alkaline and copper water purifiers work differently. Alkaline purifiers increase pH of water by 7-8.5 through mineral addition. Copper purifiers increase pH by only 6-7.
KENT Supreme alkaline water purifier is designed to enhance water alkalinity, it gives output water pH 8-10. Brand claims maximum pH increase of 9.5. We tested it with input water pH 6 and it increased the pH to the claimed range, output pH 8.
But when I checked Supreme Copper based RO, I found it also enhances water alkalinity, increases pH from 6-7 to maximum pH 7. Brand claims maximum pH increase of 1.0 unit. So what I found, it confirms that input water with pH 6 is raised to pH 7 after purification, gives mildly alkaline water.
| Aspect | Alkaline Water Purifier | Copper Water Purifier |
| pH Impact | Raises pH to 7-8.5 | Slight increase (7.83 to 7.93) |
| Mineral Content | Reintroduces Ca, Mg, K | Ca. Mg, K, Adds trace copper (177±16 ppb) |
The mineral content varies greatly between these systems. Alkaline purifiers actively reintroduce essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium using specialized mineral beds. These minerals improve both the taste and nutritional value of the water. On the other hand, copper purifiers mainly introduce trace amounts of copper ions, staying within the safe limits set by the WHO. Copper purifiers, meanwhile, primarily add trace amounts of copper ions within safe WHO limits.
03. Health benefits and risks
Both alkaline and copper water purifiers offer distinct health advantages through different mechanisms. Healthline.com says Alkaline water neutralizes body acidity, enhances hydration, and supports better digestion.
Feature Alkaline Purifier Copper Purifier
| Primary Benefits | pH balance, antioxidants, mineral enrichment | Antimicrobial, immune support, digestion |
| Health Impact | Reduces acid reflux, improves hydration | Kills bacteria, enhances immunity |
| Risk Factors | May alter mineral balance | Excess copper intake concerns |
According to Healthline.com Copper purifiers excel in antimicrobial protection and immune system support. The natural antibacterial properties effectively eliminate harmful microorganisms. However, copper intake must be monitored, as WHO guidelines limit consumption to 2mg/L.
04. Maintenance Cost
Both KENT Supreme Alkaline and Copper has same AMC, each purifier requires annual maintenance cost of around ₹5,000. Its RO membrane has life of up to 6,000 Liters, equivalent to 12 months with 16 Liters per day usage. If your water hardness is around 500 mg/L then life of RO may impact, you may find life around 5,000 litres.
Below, I have provided a breakdown of the average AMC for Alkaline and Copper water purifiers from KENT.
| Component | Alkaline Purifier (₹) | Copper Purifier (₹) |
| UF membrane + activated carbon pack + sediment filters | 900 | 900 |
| RO membrane | 2900 | 2900 |
| Pre-Filter Assembly | 1200 | 1200 |
| POST CARBON+ALKALINE FILTER | 750 | Not required |
| POST CARBON+COPPER FILTER | Not Required | 750 |
05. Purification Capacity
Iron reduction is very important for water taste and life of pre-filter, I found both this model can reduce iron levels, can handle up to 1.0 mg/L of iron. In testing, the input water iron level was 0.1 mg/L. After purification, the output water iron level was 0.01 mg/L, showed good iron reduction performance.
Both purifier can produce 18-20 liters of clean and safe drinking water per hour. With 8-liter tank capacity, the tank will be full in 20-25 minutes, fast and efficient. Suitable for family, can produce 32 glasses of water (250ml per glass) in one full tank.
Below, the infographic helps you understand the benefits of consuming copper and alkaline water
Can You Combine Alkaline and Copper Technology?
Yes, you can combine alkaline and copper technology in RO systems to maximize water purification benefits. Modern water purifiers now integrate both technologies effectively to deliver enhanced water quality.
How the Combined System Works
Urban Company model M2 combines Alkaline and Copper technology, So, are these model shows differ in PH level and Chlorine? So, let’s find out
The maximum pH increase achieved is from pH 8 to pH 9, as claimed by the brand. In input water at a neutral pH level of 6. After purification, the output water reached a pH level of 8, confirming the purifier’s ability to deliver alkaline water as claimed.
The RO water purifier has a TDS handling capacity of 2000 ppm which is within the standard range for residential purifiers. It uses RO technology along with UV and mineral enhancement to give purified water as claimed by the brand. In a test with input water TDS of 1230 ppm, the purifier reduced the TDS to 162 ppm. In hardness reduction, the water had a hardness of 380 mg/L. After purification, the output water hardness was 96 mg/L.
The initial chlorine level in the water was 0.5 mg/L. After purification the chlorine level in the output water was 0.08 mg/L. So this shows the combined alkaline and copper technology purifier can remove up to 84% of chlorine. So here what I have seen combine technology also shows same TDS, Chlorine reduction ability.
Conclusion:
Both Alkaline and Copper water purifiers like KENT Supreme models are very effective in reducing TDS, Chlorine and Iron levels to meet the safety standards. Alkaline purifiers are good in raising the pH and reintroducing the essential minerals and are good for hydration and digestion. Copper purifiers raise the pH slightly and add trace copper ions which are good for antimicrobial properties and immune support. But copper intake should be monitored so as not to exceed WHO limits. Both systems have similar maintenance cost and same purification capacity so are good for families. For those who want combined benefits, modern systems which have both Alkaline and Copper technology like Urban Company M2 gives better water quality by balancing pH and mineral content and is efficient in purification.
